The 'atmosphere' in my gym over the last 6-9months has drastically improved. That's great. A lot more lifters now, actually lifting heavy stuff too. Who would of thought (it's a commercial gym). During quiet times like a Friday night, the free weights area almost kinda sorta resembles a real gym. As a result, it's became a frikkin nightmare to try and get stuff done.

That sucks.

It really does suck but it's good when it's people you can comfortably train with. I practically always have training parteners now which is great. There's more bigger guys throwing around bigger weights and it's clearly influencing a lot of new comers. Most said new comers normally train with us if they're in at the same time but you then also get an even bigger influx of shrug fanatics. I think I dislike shrug fanatics more than bicep fanatics. I never thought there could be something MORE annoying than curl freaks using the squat rack, but, these shrug-obsessed freaks are taking it to another level. Sometimes a group of about 6 boys all doing shrugs in the squat rack for about 45 minutes. All dressed up as if they're at a club, too. pffffffffffffffffff

Another thing that sucks which just came to me - one of the recent new comers was setting up the bar to DL. Got all belted up and put around 330-340 lbs on the bar. Before he went to start the lift he said to me, "I couldn't do this much until - trainers name - showed me the technique". I was intrigued. I thought, he's obviously been told some good tips, you know, like, get closer to the bar, shoulder above the bar, belly fullof air, pull BACK, take off those 4 inch high heels, etc. But, I was wrong. He had been 'taught' by a TRAINER how to hitch. Encase no one knows what this means, it's when you hit a sticking point, can't get past it (i.e. fail), rest it on your thighs, and jerk the bar up with momentum, whilst your lumbar discs fly out your back like buttons popping off a shirt. In powerlifting those lifts don't count. I can understand why it would happen, on occasion (although, i've actually never done it....strange i know..) but, actually TRAINING/TEACHING a hitch is just a joke. After hitching a rep this guy then bounced up another 2 hitched reps. 3 reps at a weight you technically can't lift once. It's not the fact that he done this that bothers me, it's the fact that he was TAUGHT to do this....

KPj wrote: I can understand why it would happen, on occasion (although, i've actually never done it....strange i know..) but, actually TRAINING/TEACHING a hitch is just a joke. After hitching a rep this guy then bounced up another 2 hitched reps. 3 reps at a weight you technically can't lift once. It's not the fact that he done this that bothers me, it's the fact that he was TAUGHT to do this....